FULL SERVICE MARINA YAMAHA CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS GROTON, CT 50’ SLIPS AVAILABLE FOR 2019! (860) 445-9729 WINTER STORAGE • NEWLY DREDGED • FLOATING DOCKS www.PineIslandMarina.com MYSTIC, CT TRANSIENTS WELCOME! (860) 536-6647 SEASONAL DOCKAGE AVAILABLE FOR 2019 www.FortRachel.com • WINTER INDOOR & OUTDOOR STORAGE • FULL SERVICE BOAT YARD • POWER & SAIL • SHRINKWRAPPING • HAULING UP TO 70 TON & 20’ BEAM • WINTERIZATION CHESTER, CT (860) 526-1661 HEATED INDOOR BOAT STORAGE www.ChesterPointMarina.com RESERVE A SLIP INSTANTLY OUR FAMILY OF MARINAS ©2018 blp MARINE, LLC and All Subsidiary Logos. All Rights Reserved. 2 2019 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE Take Us With You On the Water UNLIMITED TOWING MEMBERSHIP $159 Breakdowns happen all the time and the average cost of a tow is around $700. But with an Unlimited Towing Membership from TowBoatU.S., just show your card and your payment is made. With 600+ boats in 300+ ports, you’re never far from assistance when you need it. GET THE BOATU.S. APP FOR ONE TOUCH TOWING GO ONLINE NOW TO JOIN! BoatUS.com/Towing or 800-395-2628 Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree or by calling. TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service. In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately. 2019 Connecticut BOATER’S GUIDE A digest of boating laws and regulations Department of Energy & Environmental Protection State of Connecticut Boating Division Ned Lamont, Governor Michael Lambert, Bureau Chief Acting Boating Director Department of Energy & Environmental Protection ✦ ✦ ✦ Robert Klee, Commissioner Editor Susan Whalen, Deputy Commissioner COVER PHOTO: MARK CHANSKI Michael Lambert, Bureau Chief Mark Chanski Boating Resource Technician Sarah E is a single engine, 36’ Baltzer Voyageur. Constructed in 1950 using Norwegian white pine planking and a Honduras mahogany transom by Baltzer The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, providing programs Shipyards of Newburyport, MA. She was completely and services in a fair and impartial manner. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEEP makes every effort to provide restored in 2000-2003, and refreshed in 2014 by A&D equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities needing auxiliary aidsor services, or information by Woodcraft in Lyme, CT. voice or TTY/TDD, should call 860-424-3000. This guide is intended to provide a summary of the most pertinent laws and regulations concerning boating, and to provide information About this Guide on these opportunities in Connecticut. No attempt has been made to employ the exact wording of laws and regulations, nor to provide their complete listing. For legal purposes the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and the General Statues of Connecticut must be Welcome to the 2019 Connecticut Boater’s consulted. A listing of the General Statutes of Connecticut can be found on the Connecticut General Assembly webiste at www.cga.ct.gov Guide. This joint venture between the Connecticut and information on state regulations is at https://eregulations.ct.gov. Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and Turley Custom Media opens many new doors. DIRECTORY OF BOATING SERVICES Turley Custom Media, a division of Turley DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Publications, Inc., a multi-faceted printing company, works to bring creative solutions to BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION expand your audience. Turley Custom Media BOATING DIVISION supports CTDEEP with the design, layout and editing of the Connecticut Boater’s Guide, while 333 Ferry Road, P.O. Box 280, Old Lyme 06371-0280 • 860-434-8638 managing the marketing and advertising sales to DEEP Website: www.ct.gov/deep • FAX: 860-434-3501 • DEEP Boating Website: www.ct.gov/deep/boating companies and organizations relevant to you, the E-mail: [email protected] reader. Advertising revenue not only generates LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION DEEP Marine Headquarters, 333 Ferry Rd., Old Lyme, CT 06371 savings, it also lowers production costs, allowing 860-434-8638 M–F, 8–4 pm CTDEEP to focus funding on what really matters EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DEEP Western District Headquarters, – keeping Connecticut’s waterways safe, clean and (24 HOURS) 230 Plymouth Rd., Harwinton, CT 06791 fun for all boaters! 860-424-3333 860-485-0226 M-F, 8:30-4pm We welcome your feedback or advertising OTHER DEEP SERVICES interests. Please contact us at 800-824-6548 or You can report violations of boating laws and regulations [email protected]. to Emergency Communications. Include the following infor- DEEP SPILL INFORMATION 866-337-7745 mation when you call: (1) the registration number of the DEEP Land and Water Resources Division violator, (2) the violation, (3) the date, time, location, and (4) (Harbor/Harbormaster Information, Mooring and Dock your name and address. Permits), 860-424-3034 DEEP Fisheries Division (Inland) 860-424-3474 Turle Administration (Hartford) 860-424-3012 (Marine) 860-434-6043 y CUSTOMMEDIA Eastern District (Marlborough) DEEP Store (Maps and Publications) 860-424-3555 East of CT River & Middlesex County 860-295-9523 DEEP State Parks Division 860-424-3200 PRESIDENT Marine District (Old Lyme) DEEP Wildlife Division 860-424-3011 Connecticut shoreline towns 860-434-0316 National Response Center Sewage Spills 800-424-8802 Keith P. Turley Western District (Harwinton) OTHER AGENCIES West of Connecticut River 860-485-0226 GROUP PUBLISHER United States Coast Guard (USCG) Natalee S. Roberts DEEP PROCESSING OFFICES (Marine Radio VHF Channel 16) USCG Sector Long Island Sound 203-468-4401 ART DIRECTOR DEEP Eastern District Headquarters, USCG Station Eaton’s Neck (NY) 631-261-6959 USCG Station New Haven (CT) 203-468-4498 Deanna B. Sloat 209 Hebron Rd., Marlborough, CT 06447 USCG Station New London (CT) 860-442-4471 (Boating certificates processed Tuesday, Wednesday A DIVISION OF and Thursday) 860-295-9523, 8:30–4 pm Department of Motor Vehicles DEEP Licensing & Revenue, (Vessel Registration Information) 860-263-5718 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127 Department of Revenue Services (Boat Sales & Use Tax Information) 860-297-5962 860-424-3105, M–F, 9–4 pm Office of Secretary of the State 24 Water Street, Palmer, MA 01069 (Vessel Lien Information) 860-509-6004 800.824.6548 turley.com 4 2019 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE 2019 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE 5 Table of Contents CERTIFICATE & EDUCATION Boats other than Personal Watercraft .................................................... 8 Exceptions .............................................................................................. 8 Non-Resident Certificate Requirement................................................. 10 Reciprocity ............................................................................................ 10 Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation .... 10 PWC only ................................................................................................. 12 Obtaining A Safe Waterskiing Endorsement ........................................ 12 Equivalency Examination ...................................................................... 13 Purchasing or Printing Duplicate a Boating Certificate (SBC or CPWO) ................................................................... 13 Temporary Certificate ........................................................................... 14 Approved Boating Courses .................................................................. 16 Student Ambassador Program ............................................................. 16 Boating Education Assistant Program ................................................. 17 REGISTRATION AND TITLING Registration/Titling ............................................................................... 18 Vessel Registration ................................................................................ 18 Position of Registration Number and Validation Decals ....................... 19 Vessels Numbered by Other States and Reciprocity ............................ 19 PHOTO CREDIT - MARK CHANSKI Connecticut Now Titles Boats ............................................................. 19 Certificate to Be On Board .................................................................... 20 Taxability of Vessels and Trailers ........................................................... 20 NEW CHANGES FOR 2019 – LOOK FOR TEXT IN RED Change of Address/ Change of Ownership/ Change of Registration Status .............................................................. 20 Hull Identification Number (HIN)............................................................ 20 BOATING REGULATIONS Enforcement .......................................................................................... 21 Definitions of Terms .................................................................................. 22 State and Federal Waters ......................................................................... 22 Restricted Safety and Security Zones...................................................... 22 Restricted Operating Distances and Speed Areas..................................... 22 Speed Regulations ................................................................................... 22 Reckless Operation .................................................................................. 22 Age Restrictions ......................................................................................